A note on Engel words of finite groups (Q344230): Difference between revisions

Let \(G\) be a finite group, let \(L(G)\), \(R(G)\), \(\overline{L}(G)\) and \(\overline{R}(G)\) denote the set of all left, right, bounded left, bounded right Engel elements of \(G\), respectively. Recently the soluble radical has been investigated in terms of certain words by \textit{J. S. Wilson} [J. Symb. Log. 74, No. 4, 1429--1435 (2009; Zbl 1184.03030); J. Algebra 326, No. 1, 286--289 (2011; Zbl 1243.20029)]. Let \(p\in\pi(G)\). The authors, noting that if \(G\) is \(p\)-nilpotent then Engel words in \(G\) may not vanish but turn \(p'\) for large enough \(n\), conclude that requiring the Engel words vanish is too restrictive. Hence, they call \(x\in G \) a left (right) \(p'\)-Engel element if for any \(y\in G\) there exists a positive natural number \(n=n(x,y)\) such that \((y,x,n)\) (\((x,y,n)\)) is a \(p'\)-element, and if \(n\) can be chosen independently from \(y\) then \(x\) is called a bounded left (right) \(p'\)-Engel element. The corresponding sets are denoted by \(L_p(G)\), \(R_p(G)\), \(\overline{L_p}(G)\) and \(\overline{R_p}(G)\). The following main results are obtained. \(G\) is \(p\)-nilpotent if and only if \(L_p(G)=R_p(G)=\overline{L_p}(G)=\overline{R_p}(G)=G\). \(F_p(G)=\overline{L_p}(G)\) (\(F_p(G)=L_p(G)\)) if and only if \(\overline{L_p}(G)\) (\(L_p(G)\)) is a subgroup. If \(G\) is minimal non-\(p\)-nilpotent then \(F(G)=L_p(G)=\overline{L_p}(G)\) and \(Z_{{\mathcal N}_p}(G)=Z(G)=R_p(G)\).